A/N: hey! A few things you have to know before we start:

-English is not my first language. I'm actually Spanish so if there is any mistake, which is highly probable, I'm sorry for that.

-This is a slightly slow burn, or at least I'll try.

-Reviews are very appreciated and in fact they can encourage me to keep going, so thank you if you leave one I'll love you forever.

-I will try to update regularly but I can't promise because of uni.

-Hope you enjoy this!

"Are you sure you don't want to think it over?" Mary Margaret repeated for the fifth time in 15 minutes. She was hovering over Emma's shoulder, watching how her soon-to-be ex-roommate was finishing her luggage.

Emma sat on the suitcase and zipped it close, blowing a strand of hair off her face. "I'm sure," Emma repeated as well with a patient smile. She stood up and met her friend, whose forehead was still clouded with concern. "Don't worry, Mary Margaret. I'll still come by often. I mean - I'm not going to give up on those hot cocoas any soon."

The joke and the promise seemed to cheer up Mary Margaret a little as a small smile made its way to her face. "I'll still miss you."

Emma reached for her friend's hands. She wasn't a touchy person, but she knew Mary Margaret was and she needed support, so she made an effort. "And I'll miss you, but I assure you, you will be thankful I'm gone when you don't wake up in the middle of every Saturday night because I forgot my keys."

Mary Margaret laughed softly, drowning the tears that threatened to fall in the back of her eyes. "You got me there."

Emma nodded and then she looked down at the multiple suitcases and boxes waiting for her on the floor to be picked up. "Will you help me take them downstairs?"

"Of course," her friend waved her hand before rushing down to get the smallest box she could find and heading downstairs.

Emma smiled at that and shook her head, leaning down to pick up her own box. She followed May Margaret, carrying the box that prayed fragile on one side, written with a red pen in her messy handwriting. Her friend seemed to have given up helping Emma and was now in the kitchen making something that smelled like a hot cocoa.

"I know," she said, raising her hand before Emma could even open her mouth. She didn't look away from the mugs and Emma felt it was because her eyes were teary. "I will help you after I finish this hot cocoa. I want to enjoy one with you one last time as roommates."

They were in the middle of summer and eggs could be fried on the streets outside, but Emma decided not to comment on that and left the box besides the door. She took a seat on the stool, in front of Mary Margaret, and watched her pour the hot milk inside both mugs. "So, have you met your new roommate yet?" she asked with a tight voice around the mention of the roommate.

"I haven't, actually," Emma said, ignoring her friend's tone on purpose. "But I guess I will today."

"Isn't it weird that she just let you inside her house without even taking her time to meet you?" Mary Margaret finally raised her gaze as she offered the mug to Emma, who took it with a thankful smile.

"I answered the questionnaire she sent me," she reminded her.

Mary Margaret shrugged, not convinced at all about it. "That's not the same. By all she could know, you could've lied."

"But I didn't," Emma pointed out. Mary Margaret glared at her and she sighed, "Hey, just because I'm moving out with someone else doesn't mean I'm replacing you."

"I know, I know, but you could still stay with someone you actually know instead of living with someone you don't even know. Coexistence could be a disaster!"

Emma tried not to smile at how her small friend looking all upset was like an angry teddy bear. "I'm moving out because A. I'm kind of becoming the third part in your relationship with David. He's here almost more than I am and it's only fair to give you some space as well as gaining my own."

"He doesn't mind you here and neither do I," Mary Margaret commented behind her mug, but Emma continued like if she hadn't interrupted her.

"And B. I'm trying to fly away from the nest. You've been letting me live here since we met and I haven't even paid you the real cost of my part of the rent." Mary Margaret opened her mouth, most probably to assure there was no problem, but Emma didn't let her talk. "So with that money and my new job, I can afford a new place to start having real responsibilities. You are like the big sister I never had and it's time for me to move out."

She watched the tears starting to cloud Mary Margaret's vision as she nodded, finishing her mug so the lump on her throat didn't betray her. Emma slid down her stool and opened her arms as she rounded the kitchen counter. Mary Margaret left the mug in the marble surface and dove into Emma's arms.

"Besides, you don't have to worry," she added after a moment. "Mulan recommended me the offer because she knows the owner."

"She only knows her from a friend of a friend," Mary Margaret pointed out and Emma glared at her, looking down. "Okay, okay. I guess if it's what you want…"

"I do," Emma affirmed again and her friend sighed, smiling.

"Then it will be alright. But I still expect weekly visits, okay?"

Emma laughed and nodded, "I promise."

They separated and Emma reached for her cocoa, drinking the rest of it and hummed in satisfaction because she knew her friend would love it. There was a knock on the door and, while Emma picked up the mugs, Mary Margaret walked over to receive the guest. David's charming smile appeared on the other side of the door and Mary Margaret stepped aside to let him in. He leaned down to press a kiss on her cheek as he walked in and then glanced around. "Hey Emma, is everything ready?"

"Yeah," she said, leaving the now clean mug down to dry. "I just have to bring down a few more boxes and that's it."

"Okay. Let me help you," he offered already following Emma upstairs, followed by Mary Margaret small steps.

Between the three of them it only took a few minutes to have it all downstairs, from where they took it all to the street and into David's van. Since Emma didn't own too many things, it was easy to load it all and still have space for all three of them to get into the car.

"Where to?" David asked once he was on the wheel, looking through the rear-view mirror. Emma fished in the back pocket of her jeans and found the crumpled paper where she had written the address. She told David and he made a turn in the next block. "Are you excited about the new place?" he asked kindly, glancing at her quickly before looking back at the road.

"I'm a little scared," she admitted. "But the good kind. I look forward to start this new chapter of my life. And thank you again for helping me with the boxes."

"Please," he waved it off. "I couldn't let you hire a truck for the few things you have when I have this monster."

Mary Margaret smiled between them and leaned into David for a second before turning to Emma. "When do you think we'll be able to pay you a visit?"

"Uh…" Emma glanced through the window and watched a dog walker struggling with two big german shepherds. "I don't know. I mean I still have to meet my roommate and, you know, see if it's okay."

David stopped his car and all three of them pulled free of their seatbelts. "Do you know anything about her?" he asked.

Emma shook her head. "No, I just know she's…." her voice trailed off as she stepped into the pavement and raised her gaze. In front on her a modern building was waiting for her to go inside and she couldn't finish her sentence. She knew for the pictures the apartment wasn't like the old loft she shared with Mary Margaret, but she definitely didn't expect that.

"Rich?" David finished for her when he joined her, carrying two boxes.

"Well, I don't think so," Mary Margaret chimed in with another box. "If so she wouldn't need a roommate."

They made their way into the building and saw a man sitting in a booth not far away from the door. "Good evening. May I help you?"

Emma glanced at her friends, who nodded and encouraged her, so she turned and stepped closer to the doorman. "I'm Emma Swan."

Realization hit him and he smiled. "Emma Swan, yes. Welcome." He reached down and when he came back up, he handed her a key. "It's the 108, 9th floor. The elevators are down the hallway, turning right. I'm sure you'll find it quickly."

Emma followed his directions with her eyes and nodded. Then readjusted the boxes in her hands and the doorman leaned forward. "You can leave all your belongings here. I will take them upstairs later."

"Oh, it's okay," she assured, but he shook his head.

"I insist." His gaze fell upon Mary Margaret and David, nodding at the boxes in their hands with a smile. They left them next to his booth and turned to Emma.

"Thank you for driving me here. I'll let you know as soon as I settle in," she said to them, still clutching the box in her hands. The reality of everything started to catch up on her and she suddenly felt like standing on a thin line, threatening to fall in any second.

Mary Margaret could tell how she felt, and although she wanted to hug her goodbye, she placed a hand on her shoulder, knowing how Emma was. David did the same and they both smiled at her. "The next chapter of your life," Mary Margaret said. "It will be alright and if you ever need anything, you know you're welcome at the loft."

Emma nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn't like getting too emotional and, for fuck's sake, she was just moving out into an apartment a few stops away on the subway. So before it turned into a full goodbye with hugs and tears, she turned and waved at them, trying to find the elevator. Once inside, she pressed the number 9 and took a deep breath.

In her runaway she had kept the box in her hands, so when she reached the door of the 108, she stood outside staring at the numbers shining under the lights. She glanced down at the keys dangling in her fingers, wondering which one of the two hanging from a poor keychain would open the door. She managed to hold the box in one hand while she tried one of the keys with the other, but it didn't give in. She grabbed the other with a little trouble and tried that one but it didn't even fit, so she frowned. She tried the first one again, and she tried to turn it as much as she could with one hand. She even tried to push the door with the other hand but it wouldn't open.

Emma was trying that tactic when the door suddenly opened by itself, leaving her dumbfounded. A woman watched her from the other side of the door, an eyebrow raised. She was slightly taller than Emma, but she soon realized it was because of the high heels she was wearing. Her short, dark hair framed one of the most beautiful faces Emma had ever seen. Her features were soft yet seemed hardened for some reason, and the crimson lipstick she was wearing almost made Emma dizzy.

"Uh, hi," Emma said with a weak smile.

"Hello," she just said. They stood in silence for a moment, while Emma still captured the presence in front of her.

It was when the other woman glanced down at the box, when Emma snapped out of it, holding out her free hand. "I'm Emma. Emma Swan."

"Oh," she just said. Her features relaxed and her lips curled up as she shook Emma's hand firmly enough for Emma to notice the strength. "Come in. The door is a little tricky, you have to get the key in and then pull up. I'll teach you later."

She waved a hand as Emma walked in and closed the door behind them. Emma stood in the middle of the living room and glanced around, taking in the place. It looked nice, but it was like if no one lived there. There were no pictures and no personal belongings that she could spot. Suddenly she realised she didn't even know the other woman's name and turned to ask. When she did so, she noticed her future roommate was shamelessly checking her out.

"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," she said after clearing her throat, feeling her cheeks blushing.

"Of course," she rolled her eyes at herself and raised her hands. "I'm Regina Mills. Nice to meet you."

"Regina," Emma repeated with a nod, as a way to seal the name to her mind.

An amused smile appeared in Regina's face, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she took a step forward. "Can I help you with that? I thought Sidney would take care of your belongings."

Emma seemed to realise in that moment she was still holding the box and looked down. "Right. I almost forgot I had it," she laughed nervously and glanced around. "I can put it down if you tell me where."

Regina watched her for a moment before nodding and walking away. "I'll show you your room, and then the rest of the apartment."

"Cool," Emma commented as she followed her.

The main space of the apartment was divided into the living room and dining room. Where she had stood she had glimpsed the kitchen on the far side of the dining room, behind a counter that separated both spaces. She followed Regina into a hallway behind the living room. She turned right and Emma saw that the hallway could be accessible by two sides. When Regina opened the door on the right side, she let Emma in to see her new bedroom.

It was bigger than the one she occupied in Mary Margaret's loft and a big bed was the first thing Emma noticed in the middle of the room. To her left there was a cabinet and a closet, which she calculated that would be more than enough for her clothes. Even too much. To her right, a TV hung on the wall, facing the bed; and in front of her, a big window that almost swallowed the wall.

"Wow," she sighed, watching the views. She walked in, leaving the box on the bed without looking away from the window. She could see the city from there and a little of the park that was a few blocks away.

After a moment watching outside, Emma turned and met Regina's smile. She was leaning on the door, her arms crossed over her white shirt. "Those are good views."

"Yeah," Emma agreed, resisting the urge to whistle at it.

Regina raised her hand and pointed outside, "Shall we see the rest of the place?" Emma nodded and once again followed her. Regina opened another door, in the middle of the hallway, and turned the lights on. "This is the bathroom. It's the only one, and then there's a toilet outside, next to the kitchen. That is my room."

She pointed to the door that was in front of Emma's room, a few feet away. The door was closed and Regina didn't make a move to open it, so Emma guessed she wouldn't see it. Instead, Regina took her to the kitchen, showing her the basics and then crossed the dining room and living room, heading towards the terrace. Emma thought the views from her room were amazing but now watching them from the terrace, feeling the late sun in her skin, was something else. There was a small table that made Emma think of those French movies when they had breakfast in a table like that.

"Now that is summer I guess you can put this terrace up for a good use as well," Regina said, raising her eyes towards the sun and narrowing them, using her hand as a cap. She then turned back inside and pointed at a door on their left, close to the large TV of the living room. "And over there it's the study. I remember you just started a new job, didn't you?"

"Yep," Emma smiled and Regina couldn't help but to smile back.

"Then if you ever need to work on something or just to read a book, the study is the best place for that. It's soundproof so you can't hear the street sounds and concentrate."

Emma wondered who the hell would have a room soundproof, but then she remembered all those nights she was kept awake because of the traffic. So she just nodded, trying to hide her amazement and, by the way Regina's smile didn't seem to drop, she wasn't being really successful.

"That is all, then," she said. She glanced at her watch and her eyebrows shot up. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I have to run some errands."

Emma turned and suddenly realized that Regina was dressed like if she had just been caught when she was about to leave. Her unpolluted white shirt, rolled up to her elbows, her black tailored pants and high heels made her look like if she was about to go to win over some company with the flick of her finger.

"Oh, okay," she managed to say.

Regina reached for her purse, which had been on the couch all this time and searched for something inside. "It's a work emergency, but I thought I could buy some food on my way back and perhaps we could have dinner together? To get to know each other."

She pulled out her sunglasses and placed on her head as she watched Emma expectantly.

"Yeah. That sounds just fine," she said.

Regina smiled at the confirmation and started to head out. "Do you like chinese food?" Emma nodded. "Good," she said, half of her body already outside the apartment. "Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a couple of hours. Bye, Emma."

Emma raised her hand to wave goodbye, but the door was already closing and she was left there with her hand still up in the air.

Since she was alone, Emma decided to walk around the apartment, trying to get used to it. She sat on the couch and found it was a little uncomfortable, which made sense since it looked like it cost more than what Emma had in her accounts. She then tried the remote and played with it until she learned how to use it.

The kitchen was next, as she touched everything Regina had showed her. The coffee maker, the mixer, the vitroceramic, microwave and the rest of machines she could find. She even made herself a cup of tea she found in one of the cupboards. Mug in hand, she visited the toilet. It was small, with all a guest could need, so she quickly moved onto another thing and headed towards the bathroom.

She walked past Regina's room and stopped, considering taking a peek at it. It was tempting and Regina didn't have to know; she would only just open the door and look inside. But then she shook her head. She didn't want to start with the wrong foot, since that apartment seemed such a catch.

After marvelling over the modern shower with different sets on it, Emma finally came back to the living room and stood in front of the study's door. Her luggage hadn't still arrived, so she would leave her room for when she had her things, and the study was the last place she had left. The soundproof room. As she turned the doorknob she tried not to think how weird that was. It was only when she was inside when she understood.

The peace and quiet that reigned in the space was unbelievable. She hadn't enjoyed a silence like that since she had been in her mother's womb. Emma walked in and the door closed behind her, making her jump at the noise suddenly so loud. Her hand ran over the different books on the shelves, while she read their titles and found some interesting ones. There was a whole variety of themes that went from religions around the world to a cooking book.

She reached for one that prayed The art of flying, curious about what it would be about, and took a seat in one of the two sofas that were in the room. They weren't uncomfortable, but Emma had to wiggle for a moment to find a good position and opened the book. She found a lot of pictures and drawings of different kinds of planes and it was after the third yawn when her eyelids gave in.